Timer



Jan. 9, 1951 T. A. DALY ET AL 2,537,929

TlvlER Filed oct. 29, 1945 2 sheen-sheet 1 H31. 66 4a Jan. 9, 1951 T. A. DALY ET AL 2,537,929

TIMER Filed Oct. 29, 1945 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1951 ENT offri-ci:-

'llhornasvA` Daly, Sharpsviligvlid Harry/A. Gill, Sharon, lla.g assignors, byinesne'assignments, to the United States of America' avsrepresented by the SecretaryY of the Navy- Application october ,29, 1945,.se1:ia1N6. 625,432

^ i-olaims. (01516141) Our. invention. relates to'V shaft-driven timers for torpedoes,r but moregenerally to devices responsive to selected numbers of revolutions of a shaft.

In the torpedoart,V it is important both for Y torpedo exercise runs as well as War shots that certain devices'are, respectively, set in operation at the end of selected time intervalafafter firing or launching of a torpedo'. Delicate clock mechvanisms do not readily withstand the shocks occurring atlaunching of an aerial torpedo or for that matter occurring at th'ewring of a torpedo fromatuhe- I L Qn `broad object of ourjinvention istheprovi- 510.11m ".rueeedand reliable timing .meansifor Atorpedoes or other devices."' j* "Another'broad object ofV our invention is the provisionof reset-limit switching means for torpedoes orpother devices for controlling the sequence `o f `operation of certainelementsof torpedoes,o r suohother devices. Apspeoic object of our invention is the provision of means operable from the propulsion shaft of a torpedo andthus responsive 'to the number ofrevolutions of the shaft for controlling the sequence of operation of certain electrically actuated elements of the torpedo. e

The objects specifically recited are merely illustrative. Other y objects A and advantages will become more apparent from a studyof the following specification andthe accompanying drawingsyin which:

Figure l is a plan View` of our invention;v

Fig. V2 is a front View of ourfinvention with c ertain parts broken away to more clearly show the construction thereof; Y Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of our invention; and Y f Fig. 4 is a right end View of our-invention' taken viy` ron1liig.y2 with parts broken away Y=to more fclearly show the construction.. v

As seen in Figs. l, 2 and 4, our invention comprises a two-piece U-shaped frameV I which 'is l@rigidlysecured to the framestructure of-a Vtoripedo, or :other device; lby suitable'bolts disposed through theopeningsil and 3 in thegbottom portion, or bight portion;l yof the framed. y i

The frame I thusprovid'es a pair of parallelly disposed side plates between which/We mount the movable elements and certain otherV stationary elements of'our invention. The side plates are held in xed spaced relation Vby the bolts d', 5 and 6, provided Withthe'cylindrical sleeve-like spacers shown on these bolts, and by rectangular -blocks1", 8,'fSL'and'Jlllprovided with the threaded outer ends for the .reception of the lock washers and nutsshown. Y Y

.A pairof strips I I and I2 of insulating material bridgethe blocks 9 and I and a pair of strips E3 and I4 of insulating material bridge the blocks fl and Y8. VEachof thelstrips II, l2, I3 and I4 carries a micro-switch, or. similar switch, comprising the switches l5, It', Il and I8. These switches are provided with connecting terminals I` and 2B, 2| and 22, 234a'nd 24, and 25 and 2%, respectively, for connection to the electrical elements of the torpedo to be energized electrically in a sequence selected. The lswitches each have resilient actuating strips as thoseshown at 2'.' and 28 for operating the snap-action contact mechanisms, such as 219 and 39 shown in Fig. 2. The resilient elements, as 2l and 23, are operated by the buttons 3l, 32g,` 33 and 3Q adjustably mounted on the pivoted lever arms 35, 36, 3i and 38. Lever arms 35 and 3l are pivoted on the bearing shaft liliY disposed in the side walls of frame l and lever arms Stand 38 are pivoted on the bearing shaft 39 also disposed in the side walls of theframe I...

The lever arms are so disposed on their pivots, or bearing shafts 39 and. 49, that their free ends `all fallnearly in the same vertical plane including the axis of the sleeve shaft l.

Y The sleeve shaft il rotates onthe stationary bearing blocks 42 and t3 held in spaced relation by the spacer 45. A torsion spring dil is disposed about thespaeerV 4S.. The spring @Il has its left end, as seenY in Fig. .4, secured to plate-like left end of the sleeve shaft 4I and has its right end secured in aligned openings in the block G2 and the side wall of theframe. Clockwise rotation of the sleeve shaft 4I, asv seen in Fig. 2, will thus Wind this spring up to a greater degree than its original wind-up tension. The original wind-up tension ofY spring 44 is so selected that when the. shaft isY released, the shaft and the elements carried thereby are positively rotated in a counterclockwise direction till the projection l? engages the stop 68 mounted in frame I.

Y The sleeve shaft 4I carries three rings 50, 5I and `52; which have limited individual axial movement with reference to the shaft il butY are held against rotation on the shaft by the key 53. A flat ring 545 of insulating material, as some phenolic resin product, ber board, or hard rubber, is disposed betweenthe disk-like end l5 and ring 50, and similar rings 55 and 5% are disposed between rings 5G and 5I; and 5I and 52, respectively. i V Y Y "Rings'lliand 55 `have`-outer cam-like peripheries for actuating the lever arms 35 and 3B through rollers mounted in the free ends of these lever arms. Ring 55, at its outer periphery, terminates in two parallelly disposed cam surfaces for activating the lever arms 31 and 38 through rollers mounted in the free ends of these lever arms. To provide initial circumferential adjustment of the cams about sleeve shaft 4|, the rings 54, 55 and 55 are free to rotate on the sleeve shaft. When adjusted to the desired position the bolts 51 and 58 are tightened to thus clamp the cam rings 54, 55 and 56 between the end 45 and rings 50, 5| and 52. The bolts have their left ends threaded into the end 45 and through suitable holes in rings 50, 5| and 52 and Suitable arcuate slots in the cam rings 54, 55 and 56 hold the rings in assembled relation. Since the rings 50, 5| and 52 are keyed to the sleeve shaft 4| a unitary rotatable assembly is provided.

The ring 5| is provided with a peripheral flange to which the worm wheel 6|) is bolted as shown. The worm wheel 60 is disposed to be inV mesh with the worm 6| mounted on a transmission shaft 53 which also carries the Worm wheel 62.

This transmission shaft 63 is mounted in a cradle bearing 64 which is rigidly secured to the counter shaft 55 rotatably mounted in a suitable bracket, as 66, on the frame I. The cradle bearing 64, as seen in Fig. 4 is provided with a handlelike projection 61 at the left, which bears on the upper edge of the opening in the frame and thus xes the gearing clearance between worm 6| and worm gear 6U. A relatively strong compression spring 68 is disposed between the botltom of the frame and the projection E'i and normally holds the worm wheel Ell and worm 6|, and the worm wheel 62 and the worm 55, mounted on the torpedo propulsion shaft '10, in mesh.

If the sleeve shaft 4| is to be released, the projection 61 may be manually depressed or similarly actuated through rotation of shaft 65. When the timer is in position on the torpedo, the square end 'Il of shaft 65 is actuated by a suitable wrench from the outside of the torpedo. By thus actuating the shaft 65 in the direction indicated by the arrow adjacent to shaft 55, theA worm wheel 6) is released and in consequence the spring 44 resets the timer to the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the torpedo is to be fired, the timer is rst reset by operation of shaft 65. The cams then take substantially the position shown schematically in Fig. 3. As soon as the torpedo is fired, the propulsion shaft starts operating and thus, in view of the considerable gear reduction, slowly drives worm wheel 65 in the direction indicated.

Cam, or ring, 54, at from 170 to 360 yards of torpedo travel, depending on the adjustment of the cam 54, actuates the switch I8 to effect closing of the arming circuit for the warhead exploder.

Cam, or ring, 55, at 212 to 400 yards of torpedo travel, also depending on the adjustment of cam 55, effects the operation of switch |B to effect the energization of certain other circuits in the torpedo.

The right-hand cam portion of ring 56 is useful during exercise runs only and effects the opening of the circuit for the main driving motor. This operation is usually effected at from 1000 to 2000 yards of torpedo travel. The left-hand cam portion of ring 56 effects the energization of the ballast-liquid-blowing-circuit at about thirty-five yards before the right-hand cam portion of ring 56 effects its operation.

While we have shown and described but one modification of our invention, we do not wish to be limited to the specic showing made but wish to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

- We claim as our invention:

l. In a system of control for a torpedo having a propulsion shaft set in operation when the torpedo is launched, in combination, a propulsion shaft, means for rotating the propulsion shaft, a timer shaft; a stop; a stop-engaging element on the timer shaft; resilient means for biasing the stop-engaging element against the stop; a transmission gear for operatively coupling the timer shaft to the propulsion shaft of the torpedo; a switch; a cam on the timer shaft for operating the switch after a predetermined rotation of the propulsion shaft; and means for disengaging the transmission gear from the timer shaft whereby the resilient means operates the timer shaft to its initial position so that the stop-engaging element engages the stop.

2. In a system of control, in combination, a driven shaft; a worm on the driven shaft; 'a timer shaft; a worm wheel on the timer shaft; a transmission shaft having a worm Wheel meshing with the worm on the driven shaft and a worm meshing with the worm wheel on the timer shaft; a countershaft disposed parallel to the transmission shaft; a cradle bearing for the transmission shaft pivotally mounted on the countershaft; resilient means biasing the cradle bearing in a direction to effect movement of the transmission shaft parallel to itself to cause said meshing engagement between the worm and worm wheel on the transmission shaft and the worm and worm wheel on the driven shaft and timer shaft, respectively; means for moving the cradle bearing to effect unmeshing of the respective worms and worm wheels; resilient means for rotating the timer shaft to an initial position upon effecting the said unmeshing of the respective worms and worm wheels; cam means on the timer shaft. and switching means operable upon rotation of the timer shaft through a given angle from its initial position.

3. In a system of control for a torpedo having a conventional housing and propulsion shaft, in combination, a worm on the propulsion shaft; a timer shaft substantially parallel to the propulsion shaft; a worm wheel on the timer shaft; a transmission shaft substantially normal to the timer shaft and propulsion shaft; a worm and worm wheel on the transmission shaft normally meshing, respectively, with the worm wheel andv worm on the timer shaft and propulsion shaft; a cradle bearing for the transmission shaft; a counter shaft disposed in parallel relation to the transmission shaft, said cradle bearing being rigidly secured to the counter shaft, whereby by the rotation of said counter shaft the cradle bearing is shifted to swing the transmission shaft parallel with respect to itself to break the operative connection between the propulsion shaft and the timer shaft; biasing means for the cradle bearing to normally maintain the operative relation between the propulsion shaft, transmission shaft` and timer shaft; means engageable from the outside of the torpedo housing for rotating the counter shaft against its biasing means; baising means for the timer shaft for rotating saidv timer shaft to an initial position when said counter shaft actuated to operate the cradleV bearing against its bias; cam means on the timer shaft; and switching means operated by the cam means.

4. In a system of control for a torpedo having a conventional housing and propulsion shaft, in combination, a worm on the propulsion shaft; a timer shaft substantially parallel to the propulsion shaft; a worm wheel on the timer shaft; a transmission shaft substantially normal to the timer shaft and propulsion shaft; a worm and worm Wheel on the transmission shaft normally meshing, respectively, with the worm wheel and worm on the timer shaft and propulsion shaft, a cradle bearing for the transmission shaft; a counter shaft disposed in parallel relation to the transmission shaft, said cradle bearing being rigidly secured to the counter shaft, whereby, by the rotation of said counter shaft, the cradle bearing is shifted to swing the transmission shaft parallel with respect to itself to break the operative connection between the propulsion shaft and the timer shaft; biasing means for the cradle bearing to normally maintain the operative rela* tion between the propulsion shaft, transmission shaft, and timer shaft; means engageable from the outside of the torpedo housing for rotating the counter shaft against its biasing means, biasing means for the timer shaft for rotating'said timer shaft to an initial position when said counter shaft is actuated to operate the cradle bearing against its bias; a 'plurality of circumferentially adjustable cams on the timer shaft; a plurality of switching means; and means associated with each cam and each switching means for operating the switching means in a selected sequence after selected numbers of revolutions of the propulsion shaft.

THOMAS A. DALY.

HARRY A. GILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,483,433 Hall Feb. 12, 1924 1,581,368 Van Deventer Apr. 20, 1926 1,801,699 Trager Apr. 21, 1931 1,985,986 Hall Jan. 1, 1935 2,396,385 Plym Mar. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,205 Great Britain Feb. 6, 1914 

